Extension wires and connection wires for position detection device and sensor panel

ABSTRACT

A position detection device includes a first sensor electrode and a second sensor electrode adjacent to the first sensor electrode, first and second connection wires connected to the first and second sensor electrodes, respectively, a sensor controller connected to the connection wires, and a first extension line; and a second extension line. Some of the plurality of connection wires, including the first connection wire, extend at regular intervals in a first region. The connection wires, including the second connection wire, are arranged to extend at regular intervals in a second region different from the first region. The first extension line extends along the second connection wire in the second region and is electrically connected to the first sensor electrode. The second extension line extends along the first connection wire in the first region and is electrically connected to the second sensor electrode.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a position detection device and asensor panel.

Background Art

A capacitive position detection device is a device including a sensorpanel disposed so as to overlap with a touch surface (which serves alsoas a display screen of a display), a sensor controller, and a flexibleprinted circuit board having wires for connecting the sensor controllerto the sensor panel. The sensor panel has arranged therein a pluralityof X electrodes each arranged to extend in a Y direction and arranged atregular intervals in an X direction, and a plurality of Y electrodeseach arranged to extend in the X direction and arranged at regularintervals in the Y direction. Hereinafter, the X electrodes and the Yelectrodes will sometimes be referred to collectively as “sensorelectrodes.”

The sensor panel further has arranged therein a plurality of FPCconnection terminals crimped to the wires (hereinafter referred to as“FPC wires”) in the flexible printed circuit board, and a plurality ofrouting lines for connecting each of the plurality of sensor electrodesto a corresponding one of the FPC connection terminals. Hereinafter, theFPC wires and the routing lines will be referred to collectively as“connection wires.”

Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2020-119356 describes a position detectiondevice having the above-described configuration.

Here, the sensor controller is configured to acquire a receptionintensity of a signal (hereinafter referred to as a “downlink signal”)transmitted by a pen at each of the sensor electrodes and thereby derivea distribution curve of reception intensity, and derive the position ofthe pen by deriving a vertex of the distribution curve. It is desirablethat the reception intensity of the downlink signal can be acquiredindependently with respect to each of the sensor electrodes in such aprocess of deriving the position, but in reality, perfect electricalindependence of each sensor electrode is impossible because couplingcapacitance occurs between adjacent ones of the sensor electrodes andbetween adjacent ones of the connection wires. Accordingly, theconnection wires for the sensor electrodes are often arranged to runside by side at regular intervals to cause the distribution of couplingcapacitance with each sensor electrode as a center to be substantiallyequal. This makes it possible to minimize an effect of theabove-described coupling capacitance on the position derivation.

However, in recent years, there have been cases where some or all of theconnection wires need to be arranged in a plurality of regions in adistributed manner. Examples of such cases include a case where, due torecent reductions in bezel width of displays, the plurality of routinglines connected to the plurality of Y electrodes need to be arranged toextend over a right region and a left region of the touch surface in adistributed manner. Moreover, recent increases in screen size havecaused increases in the number of sensor electrodes, and this has causeda case where the plurality of FPC wires corresponding to the pluralityof X electrodes need to be arranged in two or more flexible printedcircuit boards in a distributed manner. In such cases, the distributionof coupling capacitance with each of two sensor electrodes correspondingto a region boundary as a center will significantly differ from thedistribution of coupling capacitance with any other sensor electrode asa center, and this will result in reduced accuracy of the positionderived, and a need for an improvement.

In addition, an external noise is sometimes superimposed upon thedownlink signal. Thus, a known sensor controller is configured to derivedifferentials between reception intensities at adjacent sensorelectrodes instead of the reception intensity at each sensor electrode,and derive the above-described distribution curve on the basis of thederived differentials. Such a method of deriving the distribution curvewill be hereinafter referred to as a differential method. Thedifferential method causes external noises to be canceled out when thedifferentials are derived, and thus can minimize an effect caused by theexternal noises.

Here, in order to minimize the effect caused by the external noises byemploying the differential method, the magnitude of the external noisesuperimposed upon the downlink signal needs to be equal with respect toeach of adjacent sensor electrodes. However, in the case where some orall of the connection wires are arranged in a plurality of regions in adistributed manner as described above, the above necessary condition maynot be satisfied. That is, the external noise superimposed upon thedownlink signal includes components received at the connection wires,and in the case where some or all of the connection wires are arrangedin a plurality of regions in a distributed manner as described above,the connection wires connected to two sensor electrodes adjacent to eachother may be arranged to extend in regions away from each other. Thismay cause the magnitude of an external noise received at each of theseconnection wires not to be equal, and this in turn may cause reducedaccuracy of the position derived, and a need for an improvement.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Accordingly, an object of the present disclosure is to provide aposition detection device and a sensor panel which are able to minimizea reduction in accuracy in deriving a position which is caused byarranging some or all of connection wires to extend in a plurality ofregions in a distributed manner.

A position detection device according to a first aspect of the presentdisclosure is a position detection device including a plurality ofsensor electrodes including a first sensor electrode and a second sensorelectrode that are adjacent to each other, a plurality of connectionwires each of which is connected to a corresponding one of the pluralityof sensor electrodes and which includes a first connection wireconnected to the first sensor electrode and a second connection wireconnected to the second sensor electrode, a sensor controller connectedto the plurality of connection wires, a first extension line and asecond extension line. Some of the plurality of connection wires,including the first connection wire, are arranged to extend at regularintervals in a first region. The plurality of connection wires otherthan the some of the plurality of connection wires, including the secondconnection wire, extend at regular intervals in a second regiondifferent from the first region. The first extension line extends alongthe second connection wire in the second region and is electricallyconnected to the first sensor electrode, and the second extension lineextends along the first connection wire in the first region and iselectrically connected to the second sensor electrode.

A sensor panel according to the first aspect of the present disclosureis a sensor panel including a plurality of sensor electrodes including afirst sensor electrode and a second sensor electrode that are adjacentto each other, a plurality of routing lines each of which is connectedto a corresponding one of the plurality of sensor electrodes and whichincludes a first routing line connected to the first sensor electrodeand a second routing line connected to the second sensor electrode, afirst extension line and a second extension line. Some of the pluralityof routing lines, including the first routing line, extend at regularintervals in a first region. The plurality of routing lines other thanthe some of the plurality of routing lines, including the second routingline, extend at regular intervals in a second region different from thefirst region. The first extension line extends along the second routingline in the second region and is electrically connected to the firstsensor electrode, and the second extension line extends along the firstrouting line in the first region and is electrically connected to thesecond sensor electrode.

A position detection device according to a second aspect of the presentdisclosure is a position detection device including a plurality ofsensor electrodes including a first sensor electrode and a second sensorelectrode that are adjacent to each other, a plurality of connectionwires each of which is connected to a corresponding one of the pluralityof sensor electrodes and which includes a first connection wireconnected to the first sensor electrode and a second connection wireconnected to the second sensor electrode, a sensor controller connectedto the plurality of connection wires, and first and second dummy lines.Some of the plurality of connection wires, including the firstconnection wire, extend at regular intervals in a first region. Theplurality of connection wires other than the some of the plurality ofconnection wires, including the second connection wire, extend atregular intervals in a second region different from the first region.The first dummy line extends along the first connection wire in thefirst region and is connected to the sensor controller without beingconnected to any of the plurality of sensor electrodes, and the seconddummy line extends along the second connection wire in the second regionand is connected to the sensor controller without being connected to anyof the plurality of sensor electrodes. The sensor controller, inoperation, derives a position of a pen based on a differential between afirst differential signal obtained by subtracting a signal supplied fromthe first dummy line from a signal supplied from the first connectionwire and a second differential signal obtained by subtracting a signalsupplied from the second dummy line from a signal supplied from thesecond connection wire.

According to the first aspect of the present disclosure, it is possibleto cause the distribution of coupling capacitance with each of thesensor electrodes as a center to fall within a substantially fixedrange, making it possible to minimize a reduction in accuracy inderiving a position which is caused by arranging some or all of theconnection wires to extend in a plurality of regions in a distributedmanner.

According to the second aspect of the present disclosure, externalnoises can be canceled out when the differential is derived, and thismakes it possible to minimize a reduction in accuracy in deriving aposition which is caused by arranging some or all of the connectionwires to extend in a plurality of regions in a distributed manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the system configuration of a positiondetection system 1 according to a first embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a positiondetection device illustrated in FIG. 1 in detail;

FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C are each a diagram schematically illustrating thedistribution of coupling capacitance with one of Y electrodes as acenter in a comparative example in which extension lines are eliminatedfrom a sensor panel illustrated in FIG. 2 , while FIGS. 3D, 3E, and 3Fare each a diagram schematically illustrating the distribution ofcoupling capacitance with one of Y electrodes as a center according tothe first embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a positiondetection device according to a first modification of the firstembodiment of the present disclosure in detail;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a positiondetection device according to a second modification of the firstembodiment of the present disclosure in detail;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a positiondetection device according to a second embodiment of the presentdisclosure in detail;

FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C are each a diagram illustrating a circuit providedin a sensor controller in related art;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a circuit provided in a sensorcontroller according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a circuit provided in a sensorcontroller according to a first modification of the second embodiment ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a positiondetection device according to a second modification of the secondembodiment of the present disclosure in detail;

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a positiondetection device according to a third modification of the secondembodiment of the present disclosure in detail; and

FIGS. 12A and 12B are each a diagram illustrating a circuit provided ina sensor controller according to a third modification of the secondembodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described indetail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the system configuration of a positiondetection system 1 according to a first embodiment of the presentdisclosure. As illustrated in this figure, the position detection system1 includes a pen 2 and an electronic device 3 including a touch surface3 a. The pen 2 is an active pen supporting an active capacitive couplingmethod. The electronic device 3 is, for example, a tablet-type computerand includes a sensor panel 30, a sensor controller 31, a display 32,and a host processor 33 as illustrated in the figure.

The pen 2 is configured to receive an uplink signal US transmitted fromthe sensor controller 31 through the sensor panel 30 and transmit adownlink signal DS in response to the received uplink signal US. Theuplink signal US is a signal transmitted by the sensor controller 31periodically and has functions of notifying the pen 2 of transmissiontiming of the downlink signal DS and reception timing of a next uplinksignal US and transmitting a command to the pen 2. Receiving the uplinksignal US, the pen 2 determines a transmission and reception schedule ofthe downlink signal DS and the next uplink signal US on the basis ofreception timing of the uplink signal US, and transmits the downlinksignal DS and receives the next uplink signal US according to thedetermined transmission and reception schedule. In addition, the pen 2generates the downlink signal DS according to a command included in theuplink signal US.

The downlink signal DS is a signal including a position signal, which isan unmodulated carrier signal, and a data signal, which is a carriersignal modulated on the basis of data. The position signal is used forthe sensor controller 31 to derive the position of the pen 2. Meanwhile,the data signal is used to transmit given data from the pen 2 to thesensor controller 31. Examples of the data transmitted by the datasignal include a pen identifier (ID) assigned to the pen 2 in advance, apen pressure value indicating the magnitude of pressure applied to a pentip of the pen 2, and information indicating the ON/OFF state of aswitch provided on an external surface of the pen 2.

The sensor panel 30 and the sensor controller 31 together form aposition detection device 34 that detects the position of the pen 2 inthe touch surface 3 a. Specifically, the sensor panel 30 is arectangular member disposed under the touch surface 3 a, which is a flatsurface, and includes a plurality of sensor electrodes. The sensorcontroller 31 is an integrated circuit individually connected to each ofthe sensor electrodes in the sensor panel 30 through a corresponding oneof a plurality of FPC wires FLx and FLy disposed in flexible printedcircuit boards. The sensor controller 31 performs a process ofperiodically transmitting the uplink signal US by using some or all ofthe sensor electrodes in the sensor panel 30, and receiving the downlinksignal DS transmitted by the pen 2 in response to the uplink signal USthrough the sensor panel 30.

In the case where the position signal is received from the pen 2undetected, the sensor controller 31 acquires a reception intensity ofthe position signal at each of all the sensor electrodes and derives adistribution curve of reception intensity from the result thereof,thereby deriving the position of the pen 2 in the touch surface 3 a(global scan). Meanwhile, in the case where the position signal isreceived from the pen 2 already detected, the sensor controller 31acquires a reception intensity of the position signal at each of aspecified number of sensor electrodes positioned in the vicinity of aposition derived in the previous instance and derives a distributioncurve of reception intensity from the result thereof, thereby updatingthe position of the pen 2 in the touch surface 3 a (local scan). In thecase where the data signal is received from the pen 2, the sensorcontroller 31 receives the data signal at one or a specified number ofsensor electrodes positioned in the vicinity of the position derived inthe previous instance and demodulates the data signal, thereby acquiringthe data transmitted by the pen 2. The sensor controller 31 isconfigured to supply the position derived and the data acquired in theabove-described manners to the host processor 33 as often as necessary.

The host processor 33 is a central processing unit of the electronicdevice 3 and performs functions of executing an operating system of theelectronic device 3 and various types of applications by reading andexecuting programs stored in a memory, which is not illustrated in thefigure. The applications executed by the host processor 33 include adrawing application.

The drawing application is a program for causing the host processor 33to perform a process of generating stroke data on the basis of positionsand data sequentially supplied from the sensor controller 31. Otherprocesses that the drawing application causes the host processor 33 toperform include a process of storing the generated stroke data in thememory, a process of generating a video signal by subjecting thegenerated stroke data to rendering, and a process of supplying thegenerated video signal to the display 32 to display the generated strokedata on the display 32.

The display 32 is a display device including a display panel having aplurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, and a drive circuit fordriving the display panel to present a desired display. Specificexamples of the display 32 include a liquid crystal display, an organicelectroluminescence (EL) display, and an electronic paper. The drivecircuit is configured to drive each pixel of the display panel accordingto the video signal supplied from the host processor 33.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the positiondetection device 34 in detail. As illustrated in this figure, the sensorpanel 30 includes, as the above-described plurality of sensorelectrodes, a plurality of X electrodes 30 x each extending in a Ydirection and arranged at regular intervals in an X directionperpendicular to the Y direction, and a plurality of Y electrodes 30 yeach extending in the X direction and arranged at regular intervals inthe Y direction. Note that, in FIG. 2 and figures to be referencedlater, only eight X electrodes 30 x (i.e., X electrodes 30 x 1 to 30 x8) and eight Y electrodes 30 y (i.e., Y electrodes 30 y 1 to 30 y 8) areillustrated for simpler illustration, but in reality, more X electrodes30 x and more Y electrodes 30 y are provided.

The sensor panel 30 is connected to the sensor controller 31 throughthree flexible printed circuit boards Fx, Fy1, and Fy2. A plurality ofFPC wires FLx corresponding to the respective X electrodes 30 x arearranged to extend in the flexible printed circuit board Fx. Similarly,a plurality of FPC wires FLy corresponding to respective ones of some ofthe plurality of Y electrodes 30 y (specifically, the Y electrodes 30 y1 to 30 y 4) are arranged to extend in the flexible printed circuitboard Fy1, while a plurality of FPC wires FLy corresponding torespective ones of the rest of the plurality of Y electrodes 30 y(specifically, the Y electrodes 30 y 5 to 30 y 8) are arranged to extendin the flexible printed circuit board Fy2.

Each of the plurality of X electrodes 30 x is connected to the sensorcontroller 31 through a plurality of connection wires CLx. Eachconnection wire CLx includes a routing line RLx arranged to extend inthe sensor panel 30, and the above-described FPC wire FLx. An FPCterminal Tx for connecting the flexible printed circuit board Fx to thesensor panel 30 is disposed at a central portion of an end portion ofthe sensor panel 30 on one side in the Y direction, and the routing lineRLx and the FPC wire FLx that form each connection wire CLx areconnected to each other in the FPC terminal Tx. In addition, the routingline RLx of each connection wire CLx is connected to an end portion(i.e., an end portion on the side closer to the terminal Tx) of thecorresponding X electrode 30 x on the one side in the Y direction.Hereinafter, the connection wires CLx connected to the X electrodes 30 x1 to 30 x 8 will sometimes be referred to as connection wires CLx1 toCLx8, respectively.

In addition, each of the plurality of Y electrodes 30 y is connected tothe sensor controller 31 through a plurality of connection wires CLy.Each connection wire CLy includes a routing line RLy arranged to extendin the sensor panel 30, and the above-described FPC wire FLy. FPCterminals Ty1 and Ty2 for connecting the flexible printed circuit boardsFy1 and Fy2, respectively, to the sensor panel 30 are disposed atopposite end portions (i.e., on opposite sides of the FPC terminal Tx)of the end portion of the sensor panel 30 on the one side in the Ydirection, and the routing line RLy and the FPC wire FLy that form eachconnection wire CLy are connected to each other in the FPC terminal Ty1or the FPC terminal Ty2. Hereinafter, the connection wires CLy connectedto the Y electrodes 30 y 1 to 30 y 8 will sometimes be referred to asconnection wires CLy1 to CLy8, respectively.

Some of the plurality of connection wires CLy (specifically, theconnection wires CLy1 to CLy4) are arranged to extend at regularintervals in a region A1 (i.e., a first region) that lies over an endportion of the sensor panel 30 on one side in the X direction and theflexible printed circuit board Fy1, while the rest of the plurality ofconnection wires CLy (specifically, the connection wires CLy5 to CLy8)are arranged to extend at regular intervals in a region A2 (i.e., asecond region) that lies over an end portion of the sensor panel 30 onan opposite side in the X direction and the flexible printed circuitboard Fy2. Each of the connection wires CLy arranged to extend in theregion A1 is connected to an end portion (i.e., an end portion on theside closer to the region A1) of the corresponding Y electrode 30 y onthe one side in the X direction. Meanwhile, each of the connection wiresCLy arranged to extend in the region A2 is connected to an end portion(i.e., an end portion on the side closer to the region A2) of thecorresponding Y electrode 30 y on the opposite side in the X direction.

In addition to the above-described rest of the plurality of connectionwires CLy, two extension lines EX1 and EX3 are arranged to extend in theregion A2. Similarly, in addition to the above-described some of theplurality of connection wires CLy, two extension lines EX2 and EX4 arearranged to extend in the region A1. The extension line EX1 (i.e., afirst extension line) is a wire connected to an end portion (i.e., anend portion on the side closer to the region A2) of the Y electrode 30 y4 (i.e., a first sensor electrode) on the opposite side in the Xdirection, and is arranged to extend along the connection wire CLy5(i.e., a second connection wire). The extension line EX2 (i.e., a secondextension line) is a wire connected to an end portion (i.e., an endportion on the side closer to the region A1) of the Y electrode 30 y 5(i.e., a second sensor electrode) on the one side in the X direction,and is arranged to extend along the connection wire CLy4 (i.e., a firstconnection wire). The extension line EX3 (i.e., a third extension line)is a wire connected to an end portion (i.e., an end portion on the sidecloser to the region A2) of the Y electrode 30 y 3 (i.e., a third sensorelectrode), which is adjacent to the Y electrode 30 y 5 with the Yelectrode 30 y 4 intervening therebetween, on the opposite side in the Xdirection, and is arranged to extend along the extension line EX1. Theextension line EX4 (i.e., a fourth extension line) is a wire connectedto an end portion (i.e., an end portion on the side closer to the regionA1) of the Y electrode 30 y 6 (i.e., a fourth sensor electrode), whichis adjacent to the Y electrode 30 y 4 with the Y electrode 30 y 5intervening therebetween, on the one side in the X direction, and isarranged to extend along the extension line EX2.

Through provision of the extension lines EX1 to EX4, the sensor panel 30and the position detection device 34 according to the present embodimentare able to minimize a reduction in accuracy in deriving the positionwhich is caused by arranging the plurality of connection wires CLy toextend in the regions A1 and A2 in a distributed manner. This regardwill now be described in detail below.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C are diagrams schematically illustrating thedistributions of coupling capacitance with the Y electrodes 30 y 4, 30 y5, and 30 y 6, respectively, as a center in a comparative example inwhich the extension lines EX1 to EX4 are eliminated from the sensorpanel 30 illustrated in FIG. 2 . Each Y electrode 30 y has couplingcapacitance in relation to another Y electrode 30 y, and this couplingcapacitance includes a component (i.e., a sensor electrode component)caused by direct adjacency with the other Y electrode 30 y, and acomponent (i.e., a connection wire component) caused by adjacencybetween the connection wire CLy connected to the Y electrode 30 y andanother connection wire CLy.

First, referring to FIG. 3A, the Y electrode 30 y 4 has a connectionwire component of coupling capacitance in relation to each of the Yelectrodes 30 y 2 and 30 y 3, but does not have a connection wirecomponent of coupling capacitance in relation to either of the Yelectrodes 30 y 5 and 30 y 6. This is because the connection wires CLy2to CLy4 are arranged to extend in the region A1 while the connectionwires CLy5 and CLy6 are arranged to extend in the region A2.

Next, referring to FIG. 3B, the Y electrode 30 y 5 has a connection wirecomponent of coupling capacitance in relation to each of the Yelectrodes 30 y 6 and 30 y 7, but does not have a connection wirecomponent of coupling capacitance in relation to either of the Yelectrodes 30 y 3 and 30 y 4. This is because the connection wires CLy5to CLy7 are arranged to extend in the region A2 while the connectionwires CLy3 and CLy4 are arranged to extend in the region A1.

Next, referring to FIG. 3C, the Y electrode 30 y 6 has a connection wirecomponent of coupling capacitance in relation to each of the Yelectrodes 30 y 5 to 30 y 8, but does not have a connection wirecomponent of coupling capacitance in relation to the Y electrode 30 y 4.This is because the connection wires CLy5 to CLy8 are arranged to extendin the region A2 while the connection wire CLy4 is arranged to extend inthe region A1.

As will be understood by comparing FIGS. 3A to 3C with one another, thedistributions of coupling capacitance with the Y electrodes 30 y 4, 30 y5, and 30 y 6, respectively, as the center are significantly differentfrom one another due to differences in the connection wire components ofcoupling capacitance. Such differences in the distribution of couplingcapacitance between the Y electrodes 30 y cause a distortion of theabove-described distribution curve (i.e., the distribution curve ofreception intensity of the position signal), resulting in reducedaccuracy of the position derivation by the sensor controller 31.

FIGS. 3D, 3E, and 3F are diagrams schematically illustrating thedistributions of coupling capacitance with the Y electrodes 30 y 4, 30 y5, and 30 y 6, respectively, as a center according to the presentembodiment. In the present embodiment, the above-described provision ofthe extension lines EX1 to EX4 causes additional coupling capacitancebetween the Y electrodes 30 y. Thus, in FIGS. 3D to 3F, in addition tothe sensor electrode components and the connection wire componentsillustrated in FIGS. 3A to 3C, additional components of couplingcapacitance caused by the extension lines EX2 and EX4 in the region A1(i.e., additional components caused by the extension lines in the regionA1) and additional components of coupling capacitance caused by theextension lines EX1 and EX3 in the region A2 (i.e., additionalcomponents caused by the extension lines in the region A2) areillustrated.

First, referring to FIG. 3D, the connection wire CLy4 connected to the Yelectrode 30 y 4 is adjacent to the extension lines EX2 and EX4 in theregion A1 as illustrated in FIG. 2. As a result, additional componentscaused by the extension lines in the region A1 are added to the couplingcapacitance in relation to each of the Y electrodes 30 y 5 and 30 y 6.Meanwhile, the extension line EX1 connected to the Y electrode 30 y 4 isadjacent to the extension line EX3 and the connection wires CLy5 andCLy6 in the region A2. As a result, additional components caused by theextension lines in the region A2 are added to the coupling capacitancein relation to each of the Y electrodes 30 y 3, 30 y 5, and 30 y 6.

Next, referring to FIG. 3E, the connection wire CLy5 connected to the Yelectrode 30 y 5 is adjacent to the extension lines EX1 and EX3 in theregion A2. As a result, additional components caused by the extensionlines in the region A2 are added to the coupling capacitance in relationto each of the Y electrodes 30 y 3 and 30 y 4. Meanwhile, the extensionline EX2 connected to the Y electrode 30 y 5 is adjacent to theconnection wires CLy3 and CLy4 and the extension line EX4 in the regionA1. As a result, additional components caused by the extension lines inthe region A1 are added to the coupling capacitance in relation to eachof the Y electrodes 30 y 3, 30 y 4, and 30 y 6.

Next, referring to FIG. 3F, the connection wire CLy6 connected to the Yelectrode 30 y 6 is adjacent to the extension line EX1 in the region A2.As a result, an additional component caused by the extension line in theregion A2 is added to the coupling capacitance in relation to the Yelectrode 30 y 4. Meanwhile, the extension line EX4 connected to the Yelectrode 30 y 6 is adjacent to the connection wire CLy4 and theextension line EX2 in the region A1. As a result, additional componentscaused by the extension lines in the region A1 are added to the couplingcapacitance in relation to each of the Y electrodes 30 y 4 and 30 y 5.

As will be understood by comparing FIGS. 3D to 3F with FIGS. 3A to 3C,the position detection device 34 according to the present embodimentachieves a reduction in the differences between the distributions ofcoupling capacitance with the Y electrodes 30 y 4, 30 y 5, and 30 y 6,respectively, as the center when compared to the comparative example.This leads to a reduced distortion of the above-described distributioncurve (i.e., the distribution curve of reception intensity of theposition signal) when compared to the comparative example, and it cantherefore be said that the sensor panel 30 and the position detectiondevice 34 according to the present embodiment are able to minimize thereduction in accuracy in deriving the position which is caused byarranging the plurality of connection wires CLy to extend in the regionsA1 and A2 in a distributed manner.

As described above, the sensor panel 30 and the position detectiondevice 34 according to the present embodiment are able to cause thedistribution of coupling capacitance with each Y electrode 30 y as thecenter to fall within a substantially fixed range, and are thereforeable to minimize the reduction in accuracy in deriving the positionwhich is caused by arranging the connection wires CLy to extend in theregions A1 and A2 in a distributed manner.

Note that, while the four extension lines EX1 to EX4 are disposed in thesensor panel 30 in the present embodiment described above, only theextension lines EX1 and EX2 may be disposed while the extension linesEX3 and EX4 are omitted. Also note that more than four extension linesmay be disposed therein. Also note that the length of each extensionline is not limited to the length thereof illustrated in FIG. 2 , andshould be determined such that the distribution of coupling capacitancewith each Y electrode 30 y as the center can fall within a substantiallyfixed range. These regards apply to first and second modificationsdescribed below as well.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a positiondetection device 34 according to a first modification of the presentembodiment in detail. The position detection device 34 according to thepresent modification is different from the position detection device 34according to the present embodiment in the configuration concerning theplurality of connection wires CLx, and is otherwise similar to theposition detection device 34 according to the present embodiment. Notethat, while part of the configuration concerning the plurality ofconnection wires CLy is not illustrated in FIG. 4 , the omitted part ofthe configuration is the same as illustrated in FIG. 2 . The followingdescription is provided with a focus placed on differences from theposition detection device 34 according to the present embodiment.

The present modification corresponds to a case where the FPC terminal Txneeds to be divided into two FPC terminals Tx1 and Tx2 because, forexample, the number of X electrodes 30 x is great. A sensor panel 30according to the present modification is connected to a sensorcontroller 31 through a flexible printed circuit board Fx that branchesout into two parts on the side closer to the sensor panel 30.Hereinafter, one of the two parts branching out from the flexibleprinted circuit board Fx which is connected to the FPC terminal Tx1 willbe referred to as a flexible printed circuit board Fx1 (i.e., a firstflexible printed circuit board), while the other part, which isconnected to the FPC terminal Tx2, will be referred to as a flexibleprinted circuit board Fx2 (i.e., a second flexible printed circuitboard).

Some of the plurality of connection wires CLx (specifically, theconnection wires CLx1 to CLx4) are arranged to extend at regularintervals in a region A3 (i.e., the first region) that lies over the FPCterminal Tx1 and the flexible printed circuit board Fx1, while the restof the plurality of connection wires CLx (specifically, the connectionwires CLx5 to CLx8) are arranged to extend at regular intervals in aregion A4 (i.e., the second region) that lies over the FPC terminal Tx2and the flexible printed circuit board Fx2.

In addition to the above-described rest of the plurality of connectionwires CLx, two extension lines EX5 and EX7 are arranged to extend in theregion A4. Similarly, in addition to the above-described some of theplurality of connection wires CLx, two extension lines EX6 and EX8 arearranged to extend in the region A3. Here, the flexible printed circuitboard Fx is a multi-layer board, and the extension lines EX5 to EX8 arearranged to extend in layers different from a layer in which each of theconnection wires CLx1 to CLx8 extends. This is an arrangement to preventa contact between the extension lines EX5 to EX8 and the connectionwires CLx1 to CLx8 except through via hole conductors VC, which will bedescribed below. In addition, the extension lines EX5 and EX7 and theextension lines EX6 and EX8 are also arranged to extend in mutuallydifferent layers to prevent a contact therebetween.

The extension line EX5 (i.e., the first extension line) is a wireconnected to the connection wire CLx4 through a via hole conductor VCarranged to pass from layer to layer, and is arranged to extend alongthe connection wire CLx5 (i.e., the second connection wire). Theextension line EX6 (i.e., the second extension line) is a wire connectedto the connection wire CLx5 through a via hole conductor VC, and isarranged to extend along the connection wire CLx4 (i.e., the firstconnection wire). The extension line EX7 (i.e., the third extensionline) is a wire connected to the connection wire CLx3 through a via holeconductor VC, and is arranged to extend along the extension line EX5.The extension line EX8 (i.e., the fourth extension line) is a wireconnected to the connection wire CLx6 through a via hole conductor VC,and is arranged to extend along the extension line EX6.

The above-described configuration enables the sensor panel 30 and theposition detection device according to the present modification to causethe distribution of coupling capacitance with each X electrode 30 x asthe center to fall within a substantially fixed range for the samereason as in the present embodiment. This in turn makes it possible tominimize a reduction in accuracy in deriving a position which is causedby arranging the connection wires CLx to extend in the regions A3 and A4in a distributed manner.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a positiondetection device 34 according to a second modification of the presentembodiment in detail. The position detection device 34 according to thepresent modification is also different from the position detectiondevice 34 according to the present embodiment in the configurationconcerning the plurality of connection wires CLx, and is otherwisesimilar to the position detection device 34 according to the presentembodiment. Note that, while part of the configuration concerning theplurality of connection wires CLy is not illustrated in FIG. 5 , theomitted part of the configuration is the same as illustrated in FIG. 2 .The following description is provided with a focus placed on differencesfrom the position detection device 34 according to the presentembodiment.

The present modification corresponds to a case where a flexible printedcircuit board connected to a sensor controller 31 needs to be dividedinto two boards because, for example, the number of X electrodes 30 x isgreat. A sensor panel 30 according to the present modification isconnected to the sensor controller 31 through a flexible printed circuitboard Fx that branches out into two parts on the side closer to thesensor controller 31. Hereinafter, one of the two parts branching outfrom the flexible printed circuit board Fx will be referred to as aflexible printed circuit board Fx3 (i.e., the first flexible printedcircuit board), while the other part will be referred to as a flexibleprinted circuit board Fx4 (i.e., the second flexible printed circuitboard).

Some of the plurality of connection wires CLx (specifically, theconnection wires CLx1 to CLx4) are arranged to extend at regularintervals in a region A5 (i.e., the first region) that lies in theflexible printed circuit board Fx3, while the rest of the plurality ofconnection wires CLx (specifically, the connection wires CLx5 to CLx8)are arranged to extend at regular intervals in a region A6 (i.e., thesecond region) that lies in the flexible printed circuit board Fx4.

In addition to the above-described rest of the plurality of connectionwires CLx, two extension lines EX9 and EX11 are arranged to extend inthe region A6. Similarly, in addition to the above-described some of theplurality of connection wires CLx, two extension lines EX10 and EX12 arearranged to extend in the region A5. In the present modification aswell, the flexible printed circuit board Fx is a multi-layer board, andthe extension lines EX9 to EX12 are arranged to extend in layersdifferent from a layer in which each of the connection wires CLx1 toCLx8 extends. In addition, the extension lines EX9 and EX11 and theextension lines EX10 and EX12 are also arranged to extend in mutuallydifferent layers to prevent a contact therebetween.

The extension line EX9 (i.e., the first extension line) is a wireconnected to the connection wire CLx4 through a via hole conductor VC,and is arranged to extend along the connection wire CLx5 (i.e., thesecond connection wire). The extension line EX10 (i.e., the secondextension line) is a wire connected to the connection wire CLx5 througha via hole conductor VC, and is arranged to extend along the connectionwire CLx4 (i.e., the first connection wire). The extension line EX11(i.e., the third extension line) is a wire connected to the connectionwire CLx3 through a via hole conductor VC, and is arranged to extendalong the extension line EX9. The extension line EX12 (i.e., the fourthextension line) is a wire connected to the connection wire CLx6 througha via hole conductor VC, and is arranged to extend along the extensionline EX10.

The above-described configuration enables the sensor panel 30 and theposition detection device according to the present modification to causethe distribution of coupling capacitance with each X electrode 30 x asthe center to fall within a substantially fixed range for the samereason as in the present embodiment and the first modification. This inturn makes it possible to minimize a reduction in accuracy in deriving aposition which is caused by arranging the connection wires CLx to extendin the regions A5 and A6 in a distributed manner.

Next, a position detection system 1 according to a second embodiment ofthe present disclosure will be described below. The position detectionsystem 1 according to the present embodiment is different from theposition detection system 1 according to the first embodiment in thatdummy lines that are not connected to any sensor electrode are providedin place of the extension lines connected to the sensor electrodes andin processes performed by the sensor controller 31, and is similar tothe position detection system 1 according to the first embodiment inother respects including the system configuration illustrated in FIG. 1. The following description is provided with a focus placed ondifferences from the position detection system 1 according to the firstembodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a positiondetection device 34 according to the present embodiment in detail. Tocompare this figure with FIG. 2 , the position detection device 34according to the present embodiment is different from the positiondetection device 34 according to the first embodiment in including dummylines DM1 and DM2 and not including the extension lines EX1 to EX4.

The dummy line DM1 (i.e., a first dummy line) is a wire arranged toextend along a connection wire CLy4 (i.e., the first connection wire) ina region A1, and includes a routing line formed in a sensor panel 30 andan FPC wire formed in a flexible printed circuit board Fy1. The routingline and the FPC wire that form the dummy line DM1 are connected to eachother in an FPC terminal Ty1.

The dummy line DM2 (i.e., a second dummy line) is a wire arranged toextend along a connection wire CLy5 (i.e., the second connection wire)in a region A2, and includes a routing line formed in the sensor panel30 and an FPC wire formed in a flexible printed circuit board Fy2. Therouting line and the FPC wire that form the dummy line DM2 are connectedto each other in an FPC terminal Ty2.

Each of the dummy lines DM1 and DM2 is connected to the sensorcontroller 31, but is not connected to any of a plurality of Xelectrodes 30 x and a plurality of Y electrodes 30 y. The sensorcontroller 31 according to the present embodiment is configured toderive a distribution curve of reception intensity employing theabove-described differential method, and employs the dummy lines DM1 andDM2 when deriving a differential between a reception intensity at the Yelectrode 30 y 4 and a reception intensity at the Y electrode 30 y 5.The processes performed by the sensor controller 31 will be described indetail below. Processes performed by a sensor controller 31 in relatedart and a problem thereof are first described with reference to FIGS.7A, 7B, and 7C, and processes performed by the sensor controller 31according to the present embodiment are then described with reference toFIG. 8 .

FIGS. 7A to 7C are each a diagram illustrating a circuit provided in thesensor controller 31 in related art. FIG. 7A represents a circuit forderiving a differential between a reception intensity at the Y electrode30 y 3 and a reception intensity at the Y electrode 30 y 4, FIG. 7Brepresents a circuit for deriving a differential between a receptionintensity at the Y electrode 30 y 4 and a reception intensity at the Yelectrode 30 y 5, and FIG. 7C represents a circuit for deriving adifferential between a reception intensity at the Y electrode 30 y 5 anda reception intensity at the Y electrode 30 y 6. While not illustratedin the figures, circuits for deriving differentials between receptionintensities at other sensor electrodes have similar configurations.

Referring to FIG. 7A, for example, the sensor controller 31 includes atwo-input subtraction circuit DO having an inverting input terminalconnected to the connection wire CLy3 and a non-inverting input terminalconnected to the connection wire CLy4. A signal supplied from theconnection wire CLy3 to the sensor controller 31 includes a signalcomponent S_(30y3) and a noise component N_(30y3) received at the Yelectrode 30 y 3, and a noise component N_(CLy3) received at theconnection wire CLy3 connected to the Y electrode 30 y 3. Similarly, asignal supplied from the connection wire CLy4 to the sensor controller31 includes a signal component S_(30y4) and a noise component N_(30y4)received at the Y electrode 30 y 4, and a noise component N_(CLy4)received at the connection wire CLy4 connected to the Y electrode 30 y4.

Here, because the Y electrode 30 y 3 and the Y electrode 30 y 4 areadjacent to each other, the noise component N_(30y3) and the noisecomponent N_(30y4) can be considered to have the same value. Similarly,because the connection wire CLy3 and the connection wire CLy4 areadjacent to each other, the noise component N_(CLy3) and the noisecomponent N_(CLy4) can also be considered to have the same value.Accordingly, when a differential between the signal supplied from the Yelectrode 30 y 4 to the sensor controller 31 and the signal suppliedfrom the Y electrode 30 y 3 to the sensor controller 31 is derived, thefour noise components N_(30y3), N_(CLy3), N_(30y4), and N_(CLy4) arecanceled out as illustrated in FIG. 7A, leaving only a differential,S_(30y4) S_(30y3), between the signal components.

The above regard basically applies to the differentials betweenreception intensities at other sensor electrodes as well except that, asillustrated in FIG. 7B, a noise component N_(Cly5)-N_(CLy4) is left inthe differential between the reception intensity at the Y electrode 30 y4 and the reception intensity at the Y electrode 30 y 5. This is becausethe connection wire CLy4 and the connection wire CLy5 are not adjacentto each other as a result of the plurality of connection wires CLy beingarranged in the regions A1 and A2 in a distributed manner. The noisecomponent left in the differential between the reception intensitiescauses a distortion in a derived distribution curve, leading to reducedaccuracy of position derivation by the sensor controller 31.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a circuit provided in the sensorcontroller 31 according to the present embodiment. While only a circuitfor deriving the differential between the reception intensity at the Yelectrode 30 y 4 and the reception intensity at the Y electrode 30 y 5is illustrated in this figure, circuits for deriving differentialsbetween reception intensities at other sensor electrodes have aconfiguration similar to the configuration illustrated in FIGS. 7A and7C.

As illustrated in FIG. 8 , the sensor controller 31 includes twotwo-input subtraction circuits D1 a and D1 b provided in a stageprevious to a subtraction circuit DO. An inverting input terminal of thesubtraction circuit D1 a is connected to the dummy line DM1, anon-inverting input terminal thereof is connected to the connection wireCLy4, and an output terminal thereof is connected to an inverting inputterminal of the subtraction circuit DO. Meanwhile, an inverting inputterminal of the subtraction circuit D1 b is connected to the dummy lineDM2, a non-inverting input terminal thereof is connected to theconnection wire CLy5, and an output terminal thereof is connected to anon-inverting input terminal of the subtraction circuit DO.

A signal supplied from the dummy line DM1 to the sensor controller 31includes a noise component N_(DM1) received at the dummy line DM1. Here,as illustrated in FIG. 6 , the dummy line DM1 is arranged to extendalong the connection wire CLy4, and therefore, the noise componentN_(CLy4) and the noise component N_(DM1) can be considered to have thesame value. Accordingly, an output signal (i.e., a first differentialsignal) outputted from the subtraction circuit D1 a corresponds toS_(30y4)+N_(30y4). Similarly, a signal supplied from the dummy line DM2to the sensor controller 31 includes a noise component N_(DM2) receivedat the dummy line DM2. Then, because the dummy line DM2 is arranged toextend along the connection wire CLy5, the noise component N_(CLy5) andthe noise component N_(DM2) can be considered to have the same value.Therefore, an output signal (i.e., a second differential signal)outputted from the subtraction circuit D1 b corresponds toS_(30y5)+N_(30y5).

Moreover, because the Y electrode 30 y 4 and the Y electrode 30 y 5 areadjacent to each other, the noise component N_(30y4) and the noisecomponent N_(30y5) can be considered to have the same value, andtherefore, a signal S_(30y5)+S_(30y4), with the noise componentsN_(30y4) and N_(30y5) eliminated therefrom, is outputted from an outputterminal of the subtraction circuit DO. That is, the position detectiondevice 34 according to the present embodiment is able to eliminate thenoise components even from the differential between the receptionintensity at the Y electrode 30 y 4 and the reception intensity at the Yelectrode 30 y 5, and is therefore able to minimize a reduction inaccuracy in deriving a position which is caused by arranging theplurality of connection wires CLy to extend in the regions A1 and A2 ina distributed manner.

As described above, the position detection device 34 according to thepresent embodiment enables external noises to be canceled out evenbetween the Y electrodes 30 y 4 and 30 y 5, which are adjacent to eachother but the respective connection wires CLy connected to which arearranged separately in the regions A1 and A2. Accordingly, whendifferentials between reception intensities are derived employing thedifferential method, external noises can be canceled out, and this makesit possible to minimize a reduction in accuracy in deriving a positionwhich is caused by arranging the connection wires CLy to extend in theregions A1 and A2 in a distributed manner.

Note that, while the subtraction circuits are provided in the sensorcontroller 31 in the above-described present embodiment, it is to beappreciated that subtractions of signals may be performed by digitalprocessing instead of by employing physical subtraction circuits.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a circuit provided in a sensorcontroller 31 according to a first modification of the presentembodiment. The circuit illustrated in this figure is an examplemodification of the circuit illustrated in FIG. 8 . Circuits forderiving differentials between reception intensities at other sensorelectrodes have a configuration similar to the configuration illustratedin FIGS. 7A and 7C.

The sensor controller 31 according to the present modification isdifferent from the sensor controller 31 according to the presentembodiment in using a single four-input subtraction circuit D2 in placeof the subtraction circuits DO, D1 a, and D1 b. The subtraction circuitD2 has two inverting input terminals and two non-inverting inputterminals, and the two inverting input terminals are connected to therespective dummy lines DM1 and DM2, while the two non-inverting inputterminals are connected to the respective connection wires CLy4 andCLy5. A signal outputted from the subtraction circuit D2 corresponds toS_(30y4)+N_(30y4)+N_(CLy4)+S_(30y5)+N_(30y5)+N_(CLy5)−N_(DM1)+N_(DM2),but because the noise component N_(CLy4) and the noise componentN_(DM1), the noise component Nuys and the noise component N_(DM2), andthe noise component N_(30y4) and the noise component N_(30y5) can beconsidered to have the same values as described above, all the noisecomponents are eliminated, and a signal actually outputted correspondsto S_(30y5)−S_(30y4). This result is the same as in the case of theexample illustrated in FIG. 8 . Therefore, similarly to the positiondetection device 34 according to the present embodiment, a positiondetection device 34 according to the present modification is also ableto minimize a reduction in accuracy in deriving a position which iscaused by arranging the connection wires CLy to extend in the regions A1and A2 in a distributed manner.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a positiondetection device 34 according to a second modification of the presentembodiment in detail. The position detection device 34 according to thepresent modification is different from the position detection device 34according to the present embodiment in that a plurality of connectionwires CLy are collectively arranged to extend in a single region while aplurality of connection wires CLx are arranged to extend in two regionsin a distributed manner, and in that dummy lines DM3 and DM4 areprovided in place of the dummy lines DM1 and DM2, and is otherwisesimilar to the position detection device 34 according to the presentembodiment. The following description is provided with a focus placed ondifferences from the position detection device 34 according to thepresent embodiment.

A sensor panel 30 according to the second modification of the presentembodiment is connected to a sensor controller 31 through three flexibleprinted circuit boards Fx1, Fx2, and Fy. A plurality of FPC wires FLycorresponding to respective Y electrodes 30 y are arranged to extend inthe flexible printed circuit board Fy. Meanwhile, a plurality of FPCwires FLx corresponding to respective ones of some of a plurality of Xelectrodes 30 x (specifically, X electrodes 30 x 1 to 30 x 4) arearranged to extend in the flexible printed circuit board Fx1 (i.e., thefirst flexible printed circuit board), while a plurality of FPC wiresFLx corresponding to respective ones of the rest of the plurality of Xelectrodes 30 x (specifically, X electrodes 30 x 5 to 30 x 8) arearranged to extend in the flexible printed circuit board Fx2 (i.e., thesecond flexible printed circuit board).

The flexible printed circuit boards Fx1, Fx2, and Fy are connected toFPC terminals Tx1, Tx2, and Ty, respectively, of the sensor panel 30.The FPC terminals Tx1, Tx2, and Ty are arranged in this order from theone side in the X direction in the vicinity of a side that forms an endof the sensor panel 30 on the one side in the Y direction.

A routing line RLy and an FPC wire FLy that form each connection wireCLy are connected to each other in the FPC terminal Ty. In addition, therouting line RLy of each connection wire CLy is connected to an endportion of the corresponding Y electrode 30 y on the opposite side inthe X direction.

Some of the plurality of connection wires CLx which are connected to theabove-described some of the plurality of X electrodes 30 x are arrangedto extend at regular intervals in a region A3 (i.e., the first region)that lies over an area in the vicinity of the FPC terminal Tx1 and theflexible printed circuit board Fx1, while the rest of the plurality ofconnection wires CLx are arranged to extend at regular intervals in aregion A4 (i.e., the second region) that lies over an area in thevicinity of the FPC terminal Tx2 and the flexible printed circuit boardFx2.

The dummy line DM3 (i.e., the first dummy line) is a wire arranged toextend along the connection wire CLx4 (i.e., the first connection wire)in the region A3, and includes a routing line formed in the sensor panel30 and an FPC wire formed in the flexible printed circuit board Fx1. Therouting line and the FPC wire that form the dummy line DM3 are connectedto each other in the FPC terminal Tx1.

The dummy line DM4 (i.e., the second dummy line) is a wire arranged toextend along the connection wire CLx5 (i.e., the second connection wire)in the region A4, and includes a routing line formed in the sensor panel30 and an FPC wire formed in the flexible printed circuit board Fx2. Therouting line and the FPC wire that form the dummy line DM4 are connectedto each other in the FPC terminal Tx2.

Similarly to the dummy lines DM1 and DM2 according to the presentembodiment, each of the dummy lines DM3 and DM4 is connected to thesensor controller 31, but is not connected to any of the plurality of Xelectrodes 30 x and the plurality of Y electrodes 30 y. The sensorcontroller 31 employs the dummy lines DM3 and DM4 when deriving adifferential between a reception intensity at the X electrode 30 x 4 anda reception intensity at the X electrode 30 x 5. Specifically, thedifferential between the reception intensity at the X electrode 30 x 4and the reception intensity at the X electrode 30 x 5 is derivedemploying a circuit similar to the circuit described above withreference to FIG. 8 or FIG. 9 . Noise components are thus eliminatedfrom the differential between the reception intensity at the X electrode30 x 4 and the reception intensity at the X electrode 30 x 5, andtherefore, the position detection device 34 according to the presentmodification is able to minimize a reduction in accuracy in deriving aposition which is caused by arranging the plurality of connection wiresCLx to extend in the regions A3 and A4 in a distributed manner.

Note that, while the plurality of connection wires CLy are collectivelyarranged to extend in the single region in the above-described presentmodification, it is to be appreciated that the configuration of theplurality of connection wires CLy may be the same as that according tothe present embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6 . Also note that, while theflexible printed circuit boards Fx1 and Fx2 are completely separate fromeach other in the above-described present modification, it is to beappreciated that the flexible printed circuit boards Fx1 and Fx2 may bebranching portions of a single flexible printed circuit board Fx as inthe example illustrated in FIG. 4 , for example.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a positiondetection device 34 according to a third modification of the presentembodiment in detail. The position detection device 34 according to thepresent modification is different from the position detection device 34according to the second modification in that dummy lines DM5 and DM6 areadditionally provided and in processes performed by the sensorcontroller 31, and is otherwise similar to the position detection device34 according to the second modification. The following description isprovided with a focus placed on differences from the position detectiondevice 34 according to the second modification.

The dummy line DM5 (i.e., a third dummy line) is a wire arranged toextend along the connection wire CLx1 in the region A3, and includes arouting line formed in the sensor panel 30 and an FPC wire formed in theflexible printed circuit board Fx1. The routing line and the FPC wirethat form the dummy line DM5 are connected to each other in the FPCterminal Tx1.

The dummy line DM6 (i.e., a fourth dummy line) is a wire arranged toextend along the connection wire CLx8 in the region A4, and includes arouting line formed in the sensor panel 30 and an FPC wire formed in theflexible printed circuit board Fx2. The routing line and the FPC wirethat form the dummy line DM6 are connected to each other in the FPCterminal Tx2.

Similarly to the dummy lines DM3 and DM4, each of the dummy lines DM5and DM6 is connected to the sensor controller 31, but is not connectedto any of the plurality of X electrodes 30 x and the plurality of Yelectrodes 30 y. The sensor controller 31 employs the dummy line DM5when deriving a differential between a reception intensity at the Xelectrode 30 x 1 (i.e., the third sensor electrode), which is positionedat an end of the plurality of X electrodes 30 x on the one side, and areception intensity at the X electrode 30 x 2 (i.e., the fourth sensorelectrode), which is adjacent to the X electrode 30 x 1, and employs thedummy line DM6 when deriving a differential between a receptionintensity at the X electrode 30 x 8 (i.e., a fifth sensor electrode),which is positioned at an end of the plurality of X electrodes 30 x onthe opposite side, and a reception intensity at the X electrode 30 x 7(i.e., a sixth sensor electrode), which is adjacent to the X electrode30 x 8. This regard will be described specifically below.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are each a diagram illustrating a circuit provided inthe sensor controller 31 according to the present modification. FIG. 12Aillustrates a circuit for deriving the differential between thereception intensity at the X electrode 30 x 1 and the receptionintensity at the X electrode 30 x 2, while FIG. 12B illustrates acircuit for deriving the differential between the reception intensity atthe X electrode 30 x 7 and the reception intensity at the X electrode 30x 8. Circuits for deriving differentials between reception intensitiesat other sensor electrodes have configurations similar to thoseaccording to the present embodiment described above.

First, with reference to FIG. 12A, the sensor controller 31 has atwo-input subtraction circuit D3 provided in a stage previous to asubtraction circuit DO as illustrated in FIG. 7A and so on. An invertinginput terminal of the subtraction circuit D3 is connected to the dummyline DM5, a non-inverting input terminal thereof is connected to theconnection wire CLx1 (i.e., a third connection wire), and an outputterminal thereof is connected to an inverting input terminal of thesubtraction circuit DO. The connection wire CLx2 (i.e., a fourthconnection wire) is connected to a non-inverting input terminal of thesubtraction circuit DO. As a result, a noise component N_(DM5) receivedat the dummy line DM5 is supplied to the inverting input terminal of thesubtraction circuit D3, while a signal component S_(30x1) and a noisecomponent N_(30x1) received at the X electrode 30 x 1 and a noisecomponent N_(CLx1) received at the connection wire CLx1 are supplied tothe non-inverting input terminal of the subtraction circuit D3.Accordingly, a signal (i.e., a third differential signal) outputted fromthe output terminal of the subtraction circuit D3 and supplied to theinverting input terminal of the subtraction circuit DO corresponds toS_(30x1)+N_(30x1)+(N_(CLx1)−N_(DM5)). Meanwhile, a signal componentS_(30x2) and a noise component N_(30x2) received at the X electrode 30 x2 and a noise component N_(CLx2) received at the connection wire CLx2are supplied to the non-inverting input terminal of the subtractioncircuit DO.

Here, in the vicinity of an end portion of each of the sensor panel 30and the flexible printed circuit boards Fx1 and Fx2, noise that isdifferent from noise that occurs at a middle portion thereof may occur.This case corresponds to a case in which N_(CLx2)=NC and N_(DM5)=NE,where NC denotes the noise that occurs at the middle portion and NEdenotes the noise that occurs in the vicinity of the end portion. Inthis case, the noise component N_(CLx1) received at the connection wireCLx1, which is positioned at a boundary between the end and middleportions, amounts to NC+NE.

In the case where such noise occurs, the subtraction circuit D3 performsa function of eliminating the noise NE, and an output signal outputtedfrom the subtraction circuit D3, i.e., a signal inputted to theinverting input terminal of the subtraction circuit DO, corresponds toS_(30x1)+N_(30x1)+NC. Meanwhile, a signal inputted to the non-invertinginput terminal of the subtraction circuit DO corresponds toS_(30x2)+N_(30x2)+NC. Accordingly, an output signal outputted from thesubtraction circuit DO corresponds toS_(30x2)+N_(30x2)+NC−(S_(30x1)+N_(30x1)+NC)=S_(30x2)+S_(30x1), with thenoises NC and NE and the respective external noises received at the Xelectrodes 30 x 1 and 30 x 2 eliminated therefrom.

Next, with reference to FIG. 12B, the sensor controller 31 has atwo-input subtraction circuit D3 provided in a stage previous to asubtraction circuit DO in this case as well. An inverting input terminalof the subtraction circuit D3 is connected to the dummy line DM6, anon-inverting input terminal thereof is connected to the connection wireCLx8 (i.e., a fifth connection wire), and an output terminal thereof isconnected to a non-inverting input terminal of the subtraction circuitDO. The connection wire CLx7 (i.e., a sixth connection wire) isconnected to an inverting input terminal of the subtraction circuit DO.As a result, a noise component N_(DM6) received at the dummy line DM6 issupplied to the inverting input terminal of the subtraction circuit D3,while a signal component S_(30x8) and a noise component N_(30x8)received at the X electrode 30 x 8 and a noise component N_(CLx8)received at the connection wire CLx8 are supplied to the non-invertinginput terminal of the subtraction circuit D3. Accordingly, a signal(i.e., a fourth differential signal) outputted from the output terminalof the subtraction circuit D3 and supplied to the non-inverting inputterminal of the subtraction circuit DO corresponds toS_(30x8)+N_(30x8)+(N_(CLx8)−N_(DM6)). Meanwhile, a signal componentS_(30x7) and a noise component N_(30x7) received at the X electrode 30 x7 and a noise component N_(CLx7) received at the connection wire CLx7are supplied to the inverting input terminal of the subtraction circuitDO. The above configuration makes it possible to eliminate the noises NCand NE and the respective external noises received at the X electrodes30 x 7 and 30 x 8 from an output signal outputted from the subtractioncircuit DO as in the case of FIG. 12A.

As described above, even if, in the vicinity of the end portion of eachof the sensor panel 30 and the flexible printed circuit boards Fx1 andFx2, noise that is different from the noise that occurs at the middleportion thereof occurs, the position detection device 34 according tothe present modification is able to eliminate such noise from the outputsignal outputted from the subtraction circuit DO. Therefore, theposition detection device 34 according to the present modification isable to minimize a reduction in accuracy in deriving a position which iscaused as a result of, in the vicinity of the end portion of each of thesensor panel 30 and the flexible printed circuit boards Fx1 and Fx2, thenoise that is different from the noise that occurs at the middle portionthereof occurring.

While preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have beendescribed above, the present disclosure is not limited to theabove-described embodiments, and it is to be appreciated that variousother embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented withoutdeparting from the gist of the present disclosure.

For example, even in the first embodiment, the sensor controller 31 maybe configured to employ the differential method to derive thedistribution curve. Also, the position detection device 34 may beprovided with both the extension lines as used in the first embodimentor the modifications thereof and the dummy lines as used in the secondembodiment or the modifications thereof, and be configured to cause thesensor controller 31 to perform the processes as described above withrespect to the second embodiment or the modifications thereof.

Also, in each of the above-described embodiments, each of the routinglines RLx and RLy is arranged to extend in a straight fashion, but someor all of the routing lines RLx and RLy, especially the routing linesRLy in the region A2 illustrated in FIG. 2 , may be arranged to extendin a step-like fashion. This could prevent the formation of theextension lines EX1 and EX3 from causing an increase in the area of theregion A2.

What is claimed is:
 1. A position detection device comprising: aplurality of sensor electrodes including a first sensor electrode and asecond sensor electrode that are adjacent to each other, and a thirdsensor electrode adjacent to the second sensor electrode with the firstsensor electrode intervening therebetween; a plurality of connectionwires each of which is connected to a corresponding one of the pluralityof sensor electrodes and which includes a first connection wireconnected to the first sensor electrode and a second connection wireconnected to the second sensor electrode; a sensor controller connectedto the plurality of connection wires; a first extension line; a secondextension line; and a third extension line, wherein: some of theplurality of connection wires, including the first connection wire,extend at regular intervals in a first region, the plurality ofconnection wires other than the some of the plurality of connectionwires, including the second connection wire, extend at regular intervalsin a second region different from the first region, the first extensionline extends along the second connection wire in the second region andis electrically connected to the first sensor electrode, the secondextension line extends along the first connection wire in the firstregion and is electrically connected to the second sensor electrode, andthe third extension line extends along the first extension line in thesecond region and is electrically connected to the third sensorelectrode.
 2. The position detection device according to claim 1,further comprising: a fourth extension line, wherein: the plurality ofsensor electrodes include a fourth sensor electrode adjacent to thefirst sensor electrode with the second sensor electrode interveningtherebetween, the fourth extension line extends along the secondextension line in the first region and is electrically connected to thefourth sensor electrode.
 3. The position detection device according toclaim 1, wherein: each of the plurality of sensor electrodes extendsalong a first direction in a substantially rectangular sensor panel, thefirst region includes a portion lying along an end of the sensor panelon a first side of the sensor panel in the first direction, and thesecond region includes a portion lying along an end of the sensor panelon a second side of the sensor panel opposite the first side of thesensor panel in the first direction.
 4. The position detection deviceaccording to claim 3, wherein: each of the some of the plurality ofconnection wires is connected to an end of the corresponding one of theplurality of sensor electrodes on the first side of the sensor panel inthe first direction, each of the plurality of connection wires otherthan the some of the plurality of connection wires is connected to anend of the corresponding one of the plurality of sensor electrodes onthe second side of the sensor panel in the first direction, the firstextension line is connected to an end of the first sensor electrode onthe second side of the sensor panel in the first direction, and thesecond extension line is connected to an end of the second sensorelectrode on the first side of the sensor panel in the first direction.5. The position detection device according to claim 1, wherein: the someof the plurality of connection wires extend in a first flexible printedcircuit board, the plurality of connection wires other than the some ofthe plurality of connection wires extend in a second flexible printedcircuit board different from the first flexible printed circuit board,the first region includes a portion lying in the first flexible printedcircuit board, and the second region includes a portion lying in thesecond flexible printed circuit board.
 6. The position detection deviceaccording to claim 5, wherein: the first extension line is connected tothe first connection wire through a first via hole conductor, and thesecond extension line is connected to the second connection wire througha second via hole conductor.
 7. A sensor panel comprising: a pluralityof sensor electrodes including a first sensor electrode and a secondsensor electrode that are adjacent to each other, and a third sensorelectrode adjacent to the second sensor electrode with the first sensorelectrode intervening therebetween; a plurality of routing lines each ofwhich is connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of sensorelectrodes and which includes a first routing line connected to thefirst sensor electrode and a second routing line connected to the secondsensor electrode; a first extension line; a second extension line; and athird extension line, wherein: some of the plurality of routing lines,including the first routing line, extend at regular intervals in a firstregion, the plurality of routing lines other than the some of theplurality of routing lines, including the second routing line, extend atregular intervals in a second region different from the first region,the first extension line extends along the second routing line in thesecond region and is electrically connected to the first sensorelectrode, the second extension line extends along the first routingline in the first region and is electrically connected to the secondsensor electrode, and the third extension line extends along the firstextension line in the second region and is electrically connected to thethird sensor electrode.
 8. The sensor panel according to claim 7,further comprising: a fourth extension line, wherein: the plurality ofsensor electrodes include a fourth sensor electrode adjacent to thefirst sensor electrode with the second sensor electrode interveningtherebetween, the fourth extension line extends along the secondextension line in the first region and is electrically connected to thefourth sensor electrode.
 9. A position detection device comprising: aplurality of sensor electrodes including a first sensor electrode and asecond sensor electrode that are adjacent to each other, a third sensorelectrode positioned at an end of the plurality of sensor electrodes ona first side of the plurality of sensor electrodes; a plurality ofconnection wires each of which is connected to a corresponding one ofthe plurality of sensor electrodes and which includes a first connectionwire connected to the first sensor electrode, a second connection wireconnected to the second sensor electrode, and a third connection wireconnected to the third sensor electrode; a sensor controller connectedto the plurality of connection wires; a first dummy line; a second dummyline; and a third dummy line, wherein: some of the plurality ofconnection wires, including the first connection wire and the thirdconnection wire, extend at regular intervals in a first region, thethird dummy line extends along the third connection wire in the firstregion and is connected to the sensor controller without being connectedto any of the plurality of sensor electrodes, the plurality ofconnection wires other than the some of the plurality of connectionwires, including the second connection wire, extend at regular intervalsin a second region different from the first region, the first dummy lineextends along the first connection wire in the first region and isconnected to the sensor controller without being connected to any of theplurality of sensor electrodes, the second dummy line extends along thesecond connection wire in the second region and is connected to thesensor controller without being connected to any of the plurality ofsensor electrodes, and the sensor controller, in operation, derives aposition of a pen based on a differential between a first differentialsignal obtained by subtracting a signal supplied from the first dummyline from a signal supplied from the first connection wire and a seconddifferential signal obtained by subtracting a signal supplied from thesecond dummy line from a signal supplied from the second connectionwire.
 10. The position detection device according to claim 9, wherein:the some of the plurality of connection wires extend in a first flexibleprinted circuit board, the plurality of connection wires other than theplurality of connection wires extend in a second flexible printedcircuit board different from the first flexible printed circuit board,the first region includes a portion lying in the first flexible printedcircuit board, and the second region includes a portion lying in thesecond flexible printed circuit board.
 11. The position detection deviceaccording to claim 9, wherein: each of the plurality of sensorelectrodes extends along a first direction in a substantiallyrectangular sensor panel, a portion of the first region lies along anend of the sensor panel on a first side of the sensor panel in the firstdirection, and a portion of the second region lies along an end of thesensor panel on a second side of the sensor panel opposite the firstside of the sensor panel in the first direction.
 12. The positiondetection device according to claim 11, wherein: each of the some of theplurality of connection wires is connected to an end of thecorresponding one of the plurality of sensor electrodes on the firstside of the sensor panel in the first direction, and each of theplurality of connection wires other than the some of the plurality ofconnection wires is connected to an end of the corresponding one of theplurality of sensor electrodes on the second side of the sensor panel inthe first direction.
 13. The position detection device according toclaim 9, wherein: the plurality of sensor electrodes includes and afourth sensor electrode adjacent to the third sensor electrode, the someof the plurality of connection wires include and a fourth connectionwire connected to the fourth sensor, and the sensor controller, inoperation, derives the position of the pen based on a differentialbetween a signal supplied from the fourth connection wire and a thirddifferential signal obtained by subtracting a signal supplied from thethird dummy line from a signal supplied from the third connection wire.14. The position detection device according to claim 13, furthercomprising: a fourth dummy line, wherein: the plurality of sensorelectrodes includes a fifth sensor electrode positioned at an end of theplurality of sensor electrodes on a second side of the plurality ofsensor electrodes that is opposite the first side of the plurality ofsensor electrodes and a sixth sensor electrode adjacent to the fifthsensor electrode, the plurality of connection wires other than the someof the plurality of connection wires includes a fifth connection wireconnected to the fifth sensor electrode and a sixth connection wireconnected to the sixth sensor electrode, the fourth dummy line extendsalong the fifth connection wire in the second region and is connected tothe sensor controller without being connected to any of the plurality ofsensor electrodes, and the sensor controller, in operation, derives theposition of the pen based on a differential between a signal suppliedfrom the sixth connection wire and a fourth differential signal obtainedby subtracting a signal supplied from the fourth dummy line from asignal supplied from the fifth connection wire.